On the sidelines of the BITE 2013, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing organized Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Road Shows in Xi’an in Shaanxi Province on June 17, 2013 and in Beijing on June 19, 2013 respectively.

The first ever, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Road Show in Xi’an was held at the Sheraton Hotel with the participation of Sri Lanka and Chinese Tour Operators. A total of 81 Chinese Tour Operators and 11 Chinese Travel Media personnel participated at the Road Show. The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the People’s Republic of China Ranjith Uyangoda and the Deputy Director General of Xi’an Tourism Bureau Ms. Ma Xiao Li spoke at the Road Show encouraging Chinese Travel Operators and Media to look upon Sri Lanka to be promoted as an emerging destination for Chinese outbound tourists.

The Chinese Tour Operators in Xi’an observed that they had successful discussions with their Sri Lankan Partners at the business networking meeting of the Road Show and expressed their enthusiasm in promoting Sri Lanka as an island destination in Xi’an tourism market. Tour packages to Sri Lanka were awarded to the Xi’an travel agencies and media by Sri Lanka Tour Operators at the dinner hosted by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Road Show in Beijing was held at the China People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and a total of 66 Chinese Travel Agencies and 14 Travel Media participated. The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the People’s Republic of China Ranjith Uyangoda and Mr. Yu Debin, the Vice Chairman, Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development and Mr. Edward Liu, Chairman, BITE Organizing Committee also participated at the Road Show.